Learn Real English Conversations 28-Vegetarian Vocabulary Lesson

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Hello. This is AJ Hoge, Director of Effortless English, with another lesson. This is the vocabulary lesson for “Vegetarian.” And this is a conversation between Joe and Kristin. And they talk about being vegetarian,becoming vegetarian. Both Joe and Kristin are vegetarian and one of Joe’s friends, Peter, recently decided to become vegetarian. Of course, vegetarian means you do not eat meat. You do not eat... If animals were killed, you don’t eat it. That’s basically the rule. Alright, let’s... let's start. * * * * * Joe says, “Hey, Peter came to me today. He let me know that he’s decided to become a vegetarian.” And Kristin says, “Oh, that’s great.” “Yeah, he told me he’s finally seen the light.” To see the light. To finally see the light means to finally understand. It has this idea that before you were in darkness. Before you did not understand and suddenly you see the light. Suddenly you understand. We use it in that kind of situation, when you suddenly understand something that, for a long time, you did not understand. You didn’t understand. You didn’t understand. You didn't understand. You didn’t understand,suddenly you understand. You say, “Ah, I have seen the light.” And Kristin asked, “What helped him arrive at that decision?” And Joe says, “His girlfriend has been a vegetarian for about a year now and I’m sure she probably played a major role.” To play a major role means to be a big influence or to be a strong influence. So his girlfriend was a strong influence. She was a strong factor, a strong influence, for this guy Peter to become a vegetarian. She says, “Yeah, that makes sense.” That’s understandable. “He said he wanted to speak with me about it because I was an authority on the subject...” Joe says. I was an authority on the subject. To be an authority on a subject means to be an expert on a subject. So Joe is a vegetarian. He’s been a vegetarian a long time. So he’s kind of an expert about vegetarianism. Joe is an authority on vegetarianism. He is an expert. An authority on... Usually you use on... an authority on something. An authority on a subject. And then Kristin says, “Yes, you pretty much are.” You basically are an expert about vegetarianism. “You’ve been one for many years.” Joe says, “Yeah, but, as a rule I usually don’t bring up the topic of vegetarianism with people.” As a rule means generally. So generally I don’t bring up the topic of vegetarianism. As a rule I don’t bring up the topic of vegetarianism. Generally or usually or most of the time is what as a rule means. Okay, and to bring up a topic means to discuss a topic. To begin a discussion is what it really means. To bring up the topic of vegetarianism means to start a discussion on the topic of vegetarianism. Okay and Kristin says, “No I don’t like to either.” And then Joe says, “The way I figure it…” The way I understand it. “if the person is already a vegetarian, then it’s pretty much preachin’ to the choir.” Preachin’ to the choir is an idiom or a slang phrase. Preachin’ to the choir means, trying to persuade somebody who already agrees with you. So if Joe’s a vegetarian and he talks to me and says, "AJ,vegetarians are great and being a vegetarian is great, you’ll be more healthy. You treat the animals nice." Then I might say to Joe, “Joe, you’re preachin’ to the choir. I already am a vegetarian.